Google isn't the only one laying the groundwork for Android TV in the Play Store. It looks like Netflix is making sure that people can access its streaming service on the new system, despite the fact that only a few thousand people have been able to get their hands on the developer hardware from Google I/O. There's already a Netflix app for Android TV on the Play Store.

Naturally, it's incompatible with everything except the ADT-1 developer device. Google I/O attendees should be able to enjoy (read: beta test) Netflix's app for the next few months, which will let the company make sure it's ready for prime time when Android TV hits retailers later this year. The interface looks like it adheres pretty closely to the UI patterns shown off in the I/O presentations.

According to the description, all the features from the Android app (and all the other various Netflix apps for other operating systems) are present, including support for multiple users, watch lists, and movie/TV show ratings. Control comes via the ADT-1's included controller or the Android TV remote control app on your smartphone, as you'd expect.

Comments

Android Police wastes no time in proofreading its headline appears at top of article.

Phil Oakley

They just forgot a comma. Not a huge issue.

Matt

Actually, it would require a semicolon at least.

Phil Oakley

For English grammar, yes, it would. But for a headline, it would use a comma. See other headlines on here or other websites.

Matt

You're probably right on that. I don't recall headline-writing etiquette very well.

Lisandro O Oocks

I don't think commas are needed in the headline, but perhaps this would have been more proper:
Netflix does not waste time to post its Android TV app on the Play Store.

Matt

The headline's been altered since this story went up. Originally it said "Netflix wastes no time in posting its Android TV app appears in the Play Store," which was incorrect grammatically (and also made my initial joke work:P).

Lisandro O Oocks

Got it

Tarun Pemmaraju

That title doesn't make sense.

Raloc

Google already dropped the ball on Android TV if these apps are going to be listed separately from their phone/tablet counterparts instead of just loading a different layout on top of the same code.

SVem26

I guess thats up to the developers. I'm pretty sure there will be cases where developers may want to price apps differently ( though I believe the new changes in Google play address this too..)

Phil Oakley

If they're going to be listed differently for Android Tv on release, it would be very un-Google-like; when ICS came out Andy Rubin said tablets didn't need a separate app, just responsive design (which is correct).

But it seems as though Material Design doesn't extend to Android TV (yet) so I'm not sure what happens here. Although, remember from the keynote, Dave Burke said it was easy to turn a tablet app into a TV app.

I suspect Netflix are completely redoing their Android app with Material Design, and we'll see the fruits of their labor later this year.

Raloc

Well they did it with Google TV, and it was nothing short of embarrassing firing up the Play Store and seeing nothing but solitaire and other 5 second apps crowding out the top 10 most downloaded spots on every list.

I'm simply worried that in an attempt to bring TV back into the fold of the universal "Android everywhere" approach they're repeating similar mistakes that they made with the first Google TV and the first release of Android tablets. In that they're burdening developers too greatly for them to care by splitting things up unnecessarily.

NF

Google TV had problems far beyond just poor applications. The interface and hardware were very mediocre and didn't do anything well except Netflix.

Milty C

Also google TV never got updated. My sony GTV is stuck on the worse version of android ever made, android 3.2 honeycomb. On the other hand Android TV will be updated directly from Google. This will make all the difference!

Anirudh Dewani

Some of those apps on TV display use a single APK for phone /tablet / TV. We still recommend a single APK for all devices. Also, the play store lists apps that are compatible which means one or more filters on things like touchscreen required= false etc..

gspida

Agreed. I don't want new apps for android TV. I already have a google TV that does that, poorly.

This is on Netflix. Google specifically allowed apps to become compatible with Android TV by adding a few lines in the manifest.

Raloc

I thought I remembered hearing that in one of the talks, but it seemed strange that one of the handful of apps, that likely had official support out of the gate, would drop the ball like that so quickly.

Nothing more annoying in 2014 than searching for an app and seeing multiple listings for the same thing split up like this.

I've also seen a publisher who doubled the prices of its existing games and released them separately for Android TV.

strauzo

The power of Androids are apps in Google Play. Specially apps that help users to save money. The Google TV was a Flop because of lack of apps compatible. It is repeating the story ? Remove from an app all the beauty of multitouch actions is not so simple as add two line in the Android manifest.
From 3 year people are using chinese box or hdmi sticks with full version of Android inside why ? Users want full Android and full access to Google Play and specially want apps like xbmc, mega streaming, mega, sideload of apk, all video codec, external webcam etc. etc. Google knows this, but prefers to agree with companies like Netflix that are the real cause of the fragmentation of Android.

That not at all what I meant. They've clearly spent time to create an entirely different interface for Android TV but they didn't integrate it into the main app. If they did, the compatibility would have been then enabled with a few lines, and that's what I meant in my reference.

strauzo

ok my outburst was generic, not directly addressed to you. sorry.

Matthew

"Remove from an app all the beauty of multitouch actions is not so simple as add two line in the Android manifest."

Plex does this really well inside a single app already shared between Android for touch devices and Android for TV (Google TV mostly.) You just change the UI preference within the app settings.

strauzo

Plex is for videos, very simple ! In Android there are beautifull apps like Chrome, Google Maps, Google Earth and two hundred thousand others who rely on the multi-touch.
And do not expect to solve with the screen mirroring, because we hate sidebars and artifacts in the image.

Matthew

Not sure what you're on about-- the subject is Android TV and single apps within the store. I'm saying Plex has an app that changes the entire UI depending on the use case, TV or touch. All the other "beautiful" non-video apps can take the same approach.

Joseph Lampke

Does anyone know of a legal way to get the APK without having an Android TV device? I'd like to take a look at it and see its compatibility with Google TV. Thanks!

Kaero

Well, it's a free app so if someone who got one from Android I/O manages to root theirs, and you asked, they'd probably just be able to send you the apk.

Or perhaps you could employ one of the various methods of tricking the Play Store into thinking your device is something it's not (in this case, an Android TV) and downloading it that way.

vwbeetlvr

Please have useful 24hz support.

Robb Nunya

As opposed to 1MhZ support?

vwbeetlvr

24fps. Frames per second. As in no 3:2 pull down on 120hz or 240hz tvs.

Luxferro

Can anyone grab the apk?

Bruno

Netflix, just a bunch of losers making shitty website because they got the cash to do so.
Since when a "Search Movie" option is useless? And a repertory? Haven't they think about that? No wonder why Google launched it's own streaming website ! WITH a movie searching feature !

Gus70

Sux that Netflix forgot to add user profiles to the Sony NSZ-GS8 GTV.

Kevin

Are you serious? That sucks. Even my Logitech Revue has user profiles.

Gus70

Yep, and that is the only reason I kept the Revue plugged in to another HDMI port so the kids don't junk up my Netflix profile. I'm the only one that is allowed to use the GS8 (for Netflix at least). I'm tired of waiting for Android TV and I think I'll just get a Fire TV.

Pratik Holla

Looks pretty similar to the UI of my Xbox 360

miri

They've unified their TV interface across platforms. It looks more or less identical pretty much everywhere.

youdoneyo69

Does anybody know if this app uses Google's recommendation system for Android TV?

TedPhillips

yes, this question.

Cuvis

Anybody know how I can get Bluestacks to run Android TV apps?

Dt Bell

Credit to Netflix for moving so aggressively.
Netfix's distribution methods continues to be a problem, though.

BlackAce15

Same app they got on PlayStation & Xbox

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Robb Nunya

Dear Hulu: HINT

Tito

Has anyone been able to download the apk? If so could someone upload it? I would like to get it in order to improve some thigns that we got in current netflix app for phones and tablets.

thank you

Kendra

Thanks for the article Michael. For those who live outside USA and want to access Netflix, you can use UnoTelly. It changes your IP address so you can get US Netflix.